Combined card punching and slotting machine



April 6, 1948. N. s. WELK COMBINED CARD PUNCHING AND SLOTTING MCHINE Filed llay.l4, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvmrom A um J. War

: ATfQk/VEYS April 9 8- N. s. W ELK 2,439,029

COMBINED CARD PUNCHING AND SLOTTING MACHINE Filed llay 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE.EI

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COMBINED CARD PUNCHING AND S LOTTING MACHINE I Filed lay 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIRE nvmvroa. ltzwav J. Wax

Patented Apr. 6, 1948 COMBINED CARD PUNCHING AND SLOT'IING MACHINE Nelson S. Welk, Athens, Ohio, assignor to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation Application May 14, 1945, Serial No. 593,735

1 12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for punching and notching the marginal edges of cards, checks and the like.

The type of punched and slottedcards, checks and other paper forms which are adapted to be perforated and slotted by the machine here disclosed are of the general type disclosedin United States Letters Patent to Perkins No. 1,544,172,

'dated June 30, 1925.

In general cards or checks of that type are provided with a series of perforations adjacent one or more edges of the card. These perforations are arranged into fields, each field designating units, tens, hundreds, etc. These perforations are designed andlocated so that the material of the card or check which intervenes to Fig. 1, showing one key depressed to index the machine for both perforating and slotting a card, with the parts conditioned to effect such,

operation.

Fig. 4 is a view the same as Fig. 3, with the exception that the parts are shown Just at the end of the punching stroke, with the .ditioned in the same manner as Fig.

parts con- 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation and in longitudinal section through the machine, the sections being taken at different transverse points in the between the perforation and the marginal edge of the card may be entirely punched out or slotted away. This construction permits the passing of a sorting rod or needle through the perforations, and on manipulating the needle, the cards which have not been slotted through at the selected perforation will remain onthe needle, while those which have been slotted will be detached fromthe needle. The perforations are spaced apart along the edge of the card as desired.

Heretofore, cards of the type referred to have been perforated and appropriately printed and thereafter were separately classified by slotting away the edge of the card in the pattern of the selected classification, depending upon the coding. For this purpose hand punches have been provided for effecting the slotting, and also keypunch machines have been provided in which the card can be inserted and the selected classification notched out on the edge of the card by manipulation of the keys of the machine.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a simple and eflicient machine by which the perforating of the card and the slot ing thereof in accordance with a selected pattern machine and along the lines A-A of Fig. 1, BB of Fig. 2, C-C of Fig. 3, D-D of Fig. 1, E--E of Fig. 2, and F-F of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating one type of card which may be perforated and slotted by the machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in plan section through the machine taken on line 1--'! ofFig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in plan section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the accompany ing drawings, I0 indicates a frame including end frame members ll disposed at opposite ends of the machine. Relatively fixed to the end frames II and consequently to the frame of the a machine is a longitudinally extending anvil I2 is accomplished in a single operation or perforating alone may be effected.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description 'and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a machine embodying the preferred form of my invention, showing the parts in normal position so that a [card inserted in the machine will merely be perforated.

which, of course, is horizontally disposed, the upper surface I4 of which constitutes a card receiving surface upon which a card may be disposed in flatwise position. This card receiving surface 14 is extended outwardly from the anvil by means of a plate l5 relatively fixed to the frame of the machine and to the anvil. This plate is of sufficient dimensions to permit a card or sheet to be operated upon by the machine to be disposed fiatwise thereon.

Overlying the anvil I2 is a punch guide I6 which is likewise secured to the end frames II, and thus becomes a fixed part of the frame and is edge of the punch guide is is spaced slightly above the card receiving surface M in order that Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the exception that the machine is shown as actuated to perforate a card (the card not being shown).

Fig. 3 is a section through the machine similar a card may be inserted between the punch guide It and the surface M on the anvil for operation.

Relatively fixed to the anvil I2 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a pair of cross-head guides IT, one being disposed adjacent each end of the machine. These cross-head guides ll extend perpendicularly with respect to the card receiving surface It and the anvil l2. Mounted for vertical reciprocation on the cross-head guides I1 is a cross-head I8 which extends longitudinally of the machine, and which is so mounted on the guides I1 that it will reciprocate toward and away from the anvil I2 in a direction perpendicular to the card receiving surface l4. The cross-head I9 is, of course, disposed parallel to said surface |4.

Mounted in the punch guide I6 is a plurality of punches |9 arranged in side by side relation longitudinally of the guides l6. These punches |9 are guided in the guides l6 for vertical reciprocation, the line of which reciprocation is perpendicular to the card receiving surface l4. Associated with each punch l9 and complemental thereto is a die 29 arranged in vertical alignment with its associated punch I9 and guided for vertical reciprocation in a die socket 2| formed in the anvil l2. A spring 22 is provided for each die member 20 which normally tends to maintain the upper end of the die flush with the card receiving surface l4. Precise alignment is maintained by cooperating shoulders 23 in the die socket 2| and on the dies 20. Each die 20 is normally latched in such a position by means of a latch 24, one being provided for each die 20. A latch socket 25 is provided in the anvil l2 for each latch 24, which socket is disposed so that when the die 20 is in its uppermost position, its associated latch 24 may be inserted beneath the lower end of said die 29 to maintain it in such position. The outer end of each latch 24 is connected to one leg of a'bell crank 26 pivoted as at 21 to the anvil l2. The other end of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 28 to an associated key lever 29, which key lever is pivoted to the frame as at 30. There is, of course, a key lever 29 for each die 20 and punch l9.

The frame of the machine includes a keyboard 3| through which a plurality of key stems 32 vertically project so'that the keys 33 thereon are disposed vertically above the keyboard 3|. There is a key stem 32 and a key 33 for each key lever 29, and the key stems 32 are connected to the key levers 29 as illustrated in the drawings. This connection is such that depression of the key stem 32, by depressing the key 33 thereon, will swing the associated key lever 29 downwardly, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, about its pivotal point 30. Pivoting of the levers 29 is accomplished by extending a rigidrod 30a between the end frames, upon which rod the key levers 29 are pivoted.

Each key lever 29 is formed with an integral actuator arm 34 which extends vertically at the rear of the cross-head l8. Associated with each actuator arm 34 and with each punch I9 is a punch actuator 35 which is reciprocably mounted transversely of the cross-head I8 in a socket, 36.

There is, of course, one actuator 35 for each punch l9 in register therewith. Each actuator is provided with two punch engaging abutments or faces 31 and 38 for engaging the uppermost end of its associated punch l9. These faces or abutments 31 and 38 are relatively offset, both longitudinally of the actuator 35 and transversely thereof, and each is adapted to engage the upper end of the punch, depending upon the longitudinal position of the actuator 35.

One end of the actuator 35 is formed with a cam face 39 complemental to a cam face 40 on the punch guide I6. As will be explained further on herein, these complemental cam faces 39 and 40 are for the purpose of resetting the actuator and its associated actuator arm 34 and key lever 29.

"It should be stated that in normal position it is the actuator face or abutment 31 which actuates the associated punch l9, while it is the actuator face or abutment 38 which actuates the punch l9 when the key lever 29 has been conditioned to effect notching of the card. In other words, in normal condition the punch I9 is actuated to punch a round marginal hole in the card, whereas when the key lever 29 is depressed, it is the abutment or face 38 which actuates the punch l9 and effects slotting of the card inwardly from its marginal edge;

It will be noticed that the punching end of the punch I9 is provided with a cylindrical punching member 4| which cooperates with a complemental die opening 42 in the die 20. This opening 42 extends completely longitudinally through the die and aligns with an opening 43 which extends downwardly from the socket 2| through the bottom of the anvil l2. When the round punch 4| cooperates with the round die opening 42 to effect punching of a round hole in the card, the punching will pass through the hole 42 and thence through the opening 43 in the anvil and discharge.

A cylindrical perforating male die 4| projects from the lower surface of the punch I9 2. short distance, which'is greater than the thickness of a card. However, the end of the punch l9 at the upper end of the male die 4| constitutes a male slotting die Ma which cooperates with the upper end of the die socket 2| in effecting notching, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, when the punch |9 is to be actuated to effect slotting.

Therefore, it is seen that when a key lever 29 is not depressed, the punch I9 is actuated by the abutment or face 31 of the actuator sufficiently to cause punching of a. perforation in a card by means of the cylindrical die 4| projecting into the die hole 42 of the die member 20. However, when the key lever 29 is depressed and the abutment or face 38 is registered with the upper end of the punch IS, the latter is moved downwardly a greater distance, or sufficient to cause the maledie 4|a thereof to cooperate with the die socket 2| to effect slotting of the card.-

For reciprocating the cross-head I9 I have provided an operating shaft 46 which is disposed longitudinally of the anvil l2 and rotatably mounted therein and in the end frames At each end of this shaft is a crank arm 41, which crank arms are fixed on the shaft 45 and their outer ends are connected by links 48 to the ends of the cross-head l8, so that oscillation of the shaft 46 will effect vertical reciprocation of the cross-head l8. 1 l

A second pair of crank arms 49 is provided which are likewise fixed on the shaft 46 and which are connected by springs 50 to the frame of the machine.' These springs 50, through the crank arms 49, constantly tend to maintain the cross-head in its uppermost or normal position. Upward movement of the cross-head is, of course, limited by upward movement of the punches l9 in the punch guide 5, while lowering movement of the cross-head is limited by engagement of the lower ends of the dies 29 with the bottom of the die sockets 2|.

To operate the shaft 46 to effect the punching operation, it is fitted at one side of the frame with an operating lever 5 I By depression of this lever, the shaft 46 will be turned about its axis sufficiently to effect the punching operation. Upon release of the handle the springs 59 will return the cross-head to normal position. In returning the cross-head to normal position, the springs 22 will return the dies 20 to normal position. The punches l9, of course, will return to extends parallel to the normal position cross-head l8. 1

In operation of the machine, if it is desired merely to perforate a card edge, the card or sheet is inserted over the anvil on the card receiving surface l4 in proper register with the punches and dies I9 and 20. This registry is effected by abutting the rear edge of the card or sheet against an aligning member 45 arranged longttudinally of the plate l5. This aligning member line of the punches and dies l9 and 20, so as to properly align the edge of the card with respect thereto. Such abutment of the card against the aligning member 45 places the inserted edge of the card just shortof the innermost edges of the punches l9 and dies 20.

If it is desired to simultaneously perforate the edge of a card and notch out certain of those perforations to the edge of the card for a particular classification, the actuators 35 are indexed by depressing the proper keys 33 corresponding by the upward movement of the with the classification to be notched or slotted into the card. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that when a selected key 33 is depressed, it swings its associated key lever 29 downwardly, moving its actuator arm 34 forwardly and indexing its associated actuator 35 to effect a slotting operation.

As is seen from these two figures, movement of the actuator forwardly places its lowermost abutment or punch actuating face 38 over the upper end of the punch I 9 so that downward movement of the cross-head will cause downward movement of the punch l 9 in unison with the actuator 35. Thus, the punch I9 will be given its maximum stroke so that it will notch or slot the card.

It should be pointed out that simultaneously with the downward movement of the key lever 29, the bell crank 26 will be actuated by the link 28 to move the latch 24 to an ineffective position,

allowing the die member 20 associated with the particular key 33 selected to move downwardly and enable. the slotting die at the lower end of the punch l9 to slot the card.

Assuming that only one key 33 has been depressed, the remaining dies 20 will be held from downward movement and the remaining actuators will stay in normal position, so that their abutment or actuating faces 31 will engage their associated punches I9 and move the same downwardly only sufficient to allow the male cylindrical dies 4| to perforate the card. of course, the actuation of the cross-head, after the card has been inserted and the selected key 33 depressed, will be effected. by depression of the lever 5|. to its ,full stroke. Immediately that the lever 5| is released, the springs will return the crosshead to its normal position, permitting the die 20 to assume its normal position under the urging of the spring 22, and the punches l9 will be returned to normal position by movement of the cross-head l8.

However, it is necessary, of course, to return the actuator 35 which has been indexed for slotting to normal position. This is accomplished just prior to the end of the punching and slotting stroke or operation. As will be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the cooperating cam faces 39 and 40 effect this return of the indexed actuator 35 to normal position. It is accomplished by engagement of the cam surface 40 with the cam surface 39, prior to the end of the punching stroke, so that just at the end of the punching stroke the actuator 35 has been moved rearwardly by the cam action sufficiently so that its lower actuating or All 6 moved out of register with Thus, it is returned to normal abutment face 38 is the punch l3.

position. This rearward movement of the ac-.

tuator 35 returns the key lever 29 and the key 33 to normal position and simultaneouslyreinserts the latch -24 under the cooperating die 20.

7 Thus, it is seen that by placing a card on the card receiving surface that notches or slots ll, overlying the anvil, in any number may be formed in the edge of the card to correspond edge for the purpose either of direct or sequence sorting.

From the foregoing it isobvious that I have provided a very simple but effective machine for simultaneously perforating and selectively slotv ting the marginal edge of a card, check, sheet and the like, and while I have shown the .preferred formof my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the. character described, a plurality of integrally combined perforating and slotting punches, each of said punches having different perforating and slotting portions,

a die operatively associated with each of said punches, operating means normally conditioned to be constantly effective to simultaneously operate said punches to effect perforation but to'be normally ineffective to effect slotting, selective means for conditioning said operating means to operate selected punches to effectslotting while operating the remainder of the punches to effect perforation only. a

2. In a machine of the character described,

a plurality of combined'perforating and slotting punches, each of said punches having different perforating and slotting portions relatively fixed to each other, a die operatively associated with each of said punches, means for receiving and positioning a card to be operated upon by said punches and dies, said punches and dies normally operating to perforate a card and ineffective to slot the card, selective means for selectively rendering said punches and dies effective to slotthe card, and means for operating said punches.

3. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of combined perforating and slotting punches, a die operatively associated with each of said punches, means for receiving a card and positioning the same to be operated upon by said punches, means for operating said punches, said means normally effective to operate said punches to perforate a card operatively positioned with relation thereto and punches to slot a card ineffective to operate said operatively positioned with relation thereto, selectivemeans for conditioning operated upon by 7 said punches, means for operating said punches, said means normally effective to simultaneously operate said punches to perforate a card operatively positionedwith relation thereto but to be ineffective to operate said punches to slot a card operatively positioned with relation thereto, selective means for conditioning said operating means to operate selected punches to slot a card while operating the remainder of the punches to perforate the card, said selective means conditioning the dies associated with the selected punches for cooperation therewith in the slotting operation.

5. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of integrally combined perforating and slotting punches normally operating to effect perforation but to be normally ineffective to effect slotting, a die operatively associated with each of said punches, key operated means operatively associated with said punches and dies and selectively operable to render said punches and their associated dies effective as slotting punches and dies, and means for operating said punches.

6, In a machine of the character described, a plurality of integrally combined perforating and slotting punches, each of said punches having different perforating and slotting portions, a die operatively associated with each of said punches, means for operating said punches, said means normally conditioned to simultaneously operate said punches to effect perforation but to be nonnally ineffective to operate the same to effect slotting, key operated means for selectively conditioning said operating means to render the same effective to operate selected of said punches -as slotting punches, said key operated means conditioning the dies associated with the selected punches for cooperation therewith in the slotting operation.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of punches capable of operation to perforate and slot a card, a die operatively associated with each of said punches, means for operating said punches, said means normally conditioned to operate said punches to effect perforation but to be ineffective to operate the same to effect slotting, key operated means for conditioning said operating means to operate selected punches to effect slotting while .operating the remainder of the punches to effect perforation only,and means mounting said dies for movement along the line of action of said punches to cooperate with said selected punches to effect slotting.

8. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of cutting elements capable of operation as perforating punches or slotting punches, a die operatively associated with each of said cutting elements, key operated means for selectively operating said cutting elements as perforating punches or slotting punches, and means mounting said dies for movement along the line of action of said punches to cooperate with said cutting elements to effect perforating or slotting.

9. In a machine of the characterdescribed, a plurality of cutting elements capable of operation as perforating or slotting punches, a die operatively associated with each of said cutting elements, means for operating said cutting elements, key means for selectively conditioning said operating means to actuate said cutting elements as perforating or slotting punches, and means mounting said dies for movement by the cutting elements to effect slotting. I

10. In a machine of the character described. a plurality of cutting elements arranged in line formation, a die operatively associated with each of said cutting elements, means for receiving a card with one edge in register with said cutting elements, said cutting elements being capable of actuation as perforating punches or slottin punches, operating means for operating said punches, and key controlled means for selectively conditioning the operating means to selectively operate all of said cutting elements simultaneously either as perforating punches or as slotting punches and means mounting said dies for movement by selected cutting elements to efiect slotting.

11. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of relatively fixed combined perforating and slotting punches, a die operatively associated with each of said punches being normally operative to cooperate with said punches to effect perforation only, means for receiving a card and positioning the same to be operated uponby said punches, means for operating said punches, said means normally effective to simultaneously operate said punches to perforate a card operatively positioned with relation thereto but to be ineffective to operate said punches to slot a card operatively positioned with relation thereto, selective means for conditioning said operating means to operate selected punches to slot 8- card while operating the remainder of the punches to perforate the card, said selective means conditioning the dies associated with the selected punches for cooperation therewith in the slotting operation.

12. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of combined perforating and slotting punches, each of said punches having different perforating and slotting'portions relatively fixed to each other, a die operatively associated with each of said punches being normally operative to cooperate with said punches to effect perforation only, means for receiving a card and positioning the same to be operated upon by said punches, means for operating said punches, said means normall effective to simultaneously operate said punches to perforate a card operatively positioned with relation thereto but tobe ineffective to operate said punches to slot a card operatively positioned with relation thereto, key operated means for conditioning said operating means to operate selected punches to slot a card while operating the remainder of the punches to perforate the card, said key operated means conditioning the dies associated with the selected punches for cooperation therewith in the slotting operation.

NELSON S. WELK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,778,155 Hildreth Oct, 14, 1930 2,049,003 Ellis July 28, 1936 2,342,361 Niclas Feb, 22, 1944 

